Edgar Kelley – Staff Writer
ELKINS — In an effort to raise money for its organization and make Elkins look more festive during the 2022 Mountain State Forest Festival, Randolph County 4-H will be painting festival leaves on the sidewalks of local businesses.
Leaves can be repainted if they remain from a previous Forest Festival year or new leaves can be designed in front of area businesses. As they have in the past, the Randolph County 4-H and Teen Leaders will paint the leaves as part of a yearly fundraiser for the organization.
This will be the first time since 2019 that the organization will be painting the leaves for those attending the Mountain State Forest Festival, because the last two festivals were canceled due to COVID-19. Despite last year’s cancellation, the group was able to paint leaves at several locations throughout downtown Elkins.
Leaves can be painted in a variety of different fall colors and the cost for each one is $20. The leaves will be painted after business hours on or before Oct. 1.
“We are so excited for the return of the Mountain State Forest Festival,” Hannah Fincham, Extension Agent and Family & Community Development with the WVU Extension Office, told The Inter-Mountain. “It’s time to spruce up the maple leaves on your sidewalk or get one painted for the first time to help make Elkins look festive.”
For more information call Gladys at the WVU Extension office at 304-636-2455. Businesses can choose to have an invoice sent via email or pre-pay. Checks can be made payable to Randolph County 4-H Leaders Association and mailed to WVU Extension Service, 32 Randolph Ave, Suite 102, Elkins, 26241.
The Mountain State Forest Festival, which is one of the oldest and largest festivals in West Virginia, will make its return on Oct. 1. The festival will run throughout the first week of October and conclude on Oct. 9.
